EU Criticises US Death Penalty

Published onsdag 22 juli 2009 kl 10.27

The death penalty is condemned by the EU

The US has carried through their thousandth execution by lethal injection. The action is condemned by the EU through Sweden, the current holders of the presidency. Sweden is urging the US to stop using the death penalty, claiming that it is inhumane and has not proved to be a strong deterrent against crime.

In the written statement the European Union opposes the death penalty, regardless of the crime or the circumstances. The statement is concluded with the request that the US cancel all scheduled executions and prepare a permanent abolition of the death penalty.

It is not the first time that the EU has issued this request, but despite the better relations between the EU and the US, it is unlikely that the US government will pay it any heed. Although president Obama is not overly positive to the death penalty, he has stated that he is in favour of it when it comes to very serious crimes.

Also, the voters are in favour. According to Swedish Radio News, recent figures show that about 2 out of 3 Americans are in favour of the death penalty.